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Suspected jailhouse stalker held on bail

By Lisa Redmond, lredmond@lowellsun.com

Updated:
11/17/2012 06:35:41 AM EST

WOBURN -- A 42-year-old Lowell man was ordered held on $25,000 cash bail after being arraigned Thursday on assault and battery and stalking charges for allegedly continuing to stalk and harass his former girlfriend, even from jail, by sending her metal rods from his hand as a "token of his love.''

In Middlesex Superior Court, Neil Sylvester pleaded not guilty to charges of: stalking (subsequent offense), stalking in violation of a restraining order, assault and battery, assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, kidnapping, violation of a restraining order (four counts), and witness intimidation (three counts), according to the Middlesex District Attorney's Office.

Middlesex Superior Court Clerk Magistrate Michael Sullivan ordered Sylvester held on $25,000 cash bail with conditions to have no contact with the victim and abide by any and all restraining orders.

"This defendant violently abused a female victim for several months, and what is especially troubling is that he continued this abusive behavior from behind bars," Middlesex District Attorney Gerard Leone said in a statement.

After punching a wall in the Lowell District Court lockup last June, Sylvester had metal rods about 3- to 4-inches long inserted in his hand to help it heal. Prosecutors allege Sylvester wanted to demonstrate his love for the victim so he removed the metal rods from his broken hand and mailed the bloody pieces of metal to her in a letter.

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According to authorities, Sylvester and the alleged victim were in a dating relationship, during which Sylvester allegedly verbally, physically and emotionally abused the victim.

The abuse culminated in January, when the victim told Sylvester she wanted to end their relationship. Sylvester allegedly became violent and punched the victim in the face and grabbed her by the throat.

He allegedly held a knife to her throat and threatened to kill her. He allegedly prevented the victim from leaving the apartment when she tried to flee and took away her phone.

The victim eventually did get out of the apartment and the defendant was later arrested by police. The victim obtained a restraining order.

When Sylvester was notified of the restraining order, he punched a wall in Lowell District Court, fracturing his hand.

While in custody, Sylvester called the victim hundreds of times and sent her numerous letters. Many of those calls and letters were in violation of a pending restraining order and were encouraging her to drop the restraining order.

The alleged victim was put in fear of Sylvester as abuse continued even while he was in custody. The victim notified law enforcement of continued abuse after receiving a letter from the defendant on Aug. 6, which contained the two metal rods that he had pulled out of his hand, along with a note that said, "Please accept this as a token of my love."

During his arraignment in Lowell District Court last month, Sylvester told Judge Laurence Pierce he thought sending the metal rods was "cute."

He denied ever threatening the victim or her family or assaulting her.

"I would never hurt her," Sylvester said. "I have loved her for 30 years and I will continue to do so."

But prosecutors say that as recently as Oct. 7, Sylvester asked a corrections officer if the victim filed a restraining order. Sylvester allegedly told the officer, "That stupid (expletive). They will see there will be a blood bath when I get out of here. They are all dead."

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